The Loop

How Ancient Prophecies Point to the True Meaning of Christmas

Have you ever been given a gift that you knew you needed but didn't know what to do with? Years ago, I noticed a good friend of mine had holes in his shoes. In a conversation, he let me know he couldn't afford new shoes. A group of us secretly bought him two pairs. When he received them, you could see a mix of emotions—shame, pride, gratitude—all mixed together, and my friend didn't know how to respond.

I think sometimes we do that with Jesus. We hear about this great gift we have to receive, but we don't know what to do with it.

The Prophet's Difficult Calling

The prophet Isaiah ministered from approximately 739 to 681 BC, about 700 years before Jesus was born. A prophet is someone who hears a word from the Lord and communicates that word on God's behalf. Sometimes prophets are called "seers" because God gives them a Revelation.

In Isaiah chapter 6, Isaiah is brought into the throne room of God where he witnesses a magnificent worship service. Caught up in the moment, when God asks "Who will go?" Isaiah blurts out, "Here am I. Send me" (Isaiah 6:8).

But then God gives Isaiah some troubling news about his ministry: "Go and tell this people: 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and be healed" (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Isaiah's ministry would be incredibly difficult. He would preach to people who wouldn't listen—people with deaf ears and hard hearts.

When Darkness Seems to Win

In Isaiah 8, we see a description of people in distress: "Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom. They will be thrust into utter darkness" (Isaiah 8:22).

This physical description of literal history is also describing a spiritual condition we all feel when we align our hearts with the enemy. Some of you know exactly what this feels like. As you go into Christmas time, your families have been torn apart, you're upside down from choices you've made or somebody else made that was out of your control.

A Light Has Dawned

But then comes one of the most famous and powerful prophecies we read every Christmas: "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress... The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:1-2).

This darkness being described is life that is so in distress, so overwhelming that "I don't know what to do with it. I don't know how to fix this on my own."

Breaking the Chains of Slavery

The prophecy continues: "For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor" (Isaiah 9:4).

All of us are actually in chains. As Paul builds on this Biblical concept in Romans, he says, "Don't you know that you are slaves to whatever you obey?" (Romans 6:16).

Have you ever noticed that if you work for more money, you never make enough? If you work for appreciation, you never get enough? As my last pastor used to say, "What if you get what you want, but then what you want gets you?" That's slavery.

The Child Who Changes Everything

Then we arrive at the famous passage you've heard at every Christmas: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

How many of you long for a ruler you never have to wonder about? Do you ever need wisdom and don't know where to go? He's a Wonderful Counselor. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your circumstances? He's a Mighty God. Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to have a great dad? He's an Everlasting Father. Have you been looking for peace? The Hebrew concept of shalom is whole—body, mind, spirit, finances, and relationships. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Putting It Into Practice

We live in the land of the "already and not yet." One day, all evil will be removed, all war and sin will be vanquished. Jesus will reign fully and finally. But he is reigning right here, right now from heaven.

So the question becomes: What are you going to do with Jesus? Will you:

1. Stop playing games with your faith and go all-in with Jesus?
2. Recognize the areas where you've become enslaved and ask Him to break those chains?
3. Allow Him to be your Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace?

This Christmas, don't just celebrate sweet baby Jesus lying in a manger. Understand that the Christmas story is really about a troubled heart that needed somebody to set it free—your heart and mine.

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